Highland Park resident Jerry Adler will be honored during the city's Veterans Day observance Saturday for his contributions as an intelligence and reconnaissance specialist in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

Adler, 86, will be feted as a "Hero Among Us" in keeping with the City of Highland Park's tradition of singling out a war veteran for recognition each year.

Adler is the first Korean War veteran selected by American Legion Post 145 for the honor, as the organization wished to first recognize those World War II veterans who are living, according to Commander Larry Sassarossi.

The city's tribute to its veterans will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Adult Services Section of the Highland Park Public Library, 494 Laurel Ave., Highland Park. Mayor Nancy Rotering is among the speakers and the Highland Park High School Brass Quintet will perform patriotic music.

At 9:30 a.m. Saturday, the newly-formed Fort Sheridan Historical Society will honor veterans with a wreath-laying ceremony at the flag pole, located at the far west end of the fort's former military parade grounds on the 900 block of Leonard Wood West. Members of Lake Forest Boy Scout Troop 48 will serve as honor guard.

Adler said he enlisted in the Army in July 1951 after dropping out of Rutgers University for lack of funds. He'd been commuting to school by train 90 minutes each way.

"I didn't do well in school, I didn't fit in at school and I didn't have a nickel," said Adler. Getting off the train in his home town of Jersey City, N.J., one day, he noticed an Army recruitment office.

"It looked to me like a good idea, so I went inside and met the sergeant," recalled Adler. "He was an awfully nice guy."

Adler said that after 40 weeks of training, he was sent to Korea and given an elite assignment with the 2nd Infantry Division because he had two years of college.

"As a member of the intelligence and reconnaissance squad, our job was to learn as much as we could about the disposition of the enemy we were facing and communicate that to the battalion commander," Adler said.

Before the battalion would move into new territory, the intelligence and reconnaissance squad would arrive early to assess the area and relay findings, Adler said.

Though still in his early 20s, Adler was recommended by his battalion commander for a direct commission to the rank of first lieutenant, and he spent his last year of duty back in the U.S. writing battle plans at Fort Jay on Governor's Island in New York City.

Adler said when his tour ended, he returned to Rutgers to complete his education and found the academic success he'd not experienced before his military duty.

During his professional career, he entered the wine and spirits industry and founded D J Dotson, a beverage specialties company, and a restaurant meals delivery company.

The selection of the honored veteran rotates among three local veterans' organizations, which, in addition to American Legion Post 145, include Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4737 and Jewish War Veterans Post 29.